Fox Recaps Day Two

At the conclusion of rounds two and three of the 2011 NFL Draft, Head Coach John Fox covered a variety of topics.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- At the end of day two of the draft, Head Coach John Fox was pleased with finding three more players that will make the Broncos "a better football team."

"I think we've got a good corps of guys here now," he said of the current roster. "I think we'll inject this group into it, and we've created a lot of competition with some very young, talented guys so far in this draft."

"We're just trying to accumulate players, guys that fit what we're going to do and let them define where their positions are."

On Moore's strengths:"First of all, his ball skills. This game is about taking the ball away on defense, whether it be on downs or interceptions or fumble recoveries. He's got great ball skills. He has a lot of interceptions, probably more than anybody in the draft. He's athletic, he's a smart guy, he understands football, he loves football -- and those are pretty good traits."

On Franklin's physicality:"He's big and physical, he knocks people off the ball, he gets his hands on you and you're usually going the other way. That was something that was impressive."

On projecting Franklin at right tackle:"I think we were pretty specific with Orlando just because that's his makeup, that's how he's built. Sometimes I don't like defining players this early in the process because they can surprise you. But right now I think that's the area that would have an opening, potentially, and we'll go from there. We have to have some depth there anyways."

On Irving's hesitance to define himself as an inside or outside linebacker:"Nate probably doesn't realize it because he's got skills to do both, and he did both in college. We did a lot of research. He's a terrific player, he plays football very physically and yet he does have the skill set, some of the more finesse things as far as catching the ball, making plays on the outside as well as the inside. He's a guy that we had our eyes on all the way, and he's a guy we identified that would fit what we're doing."

FIRST TRADE OF THE DRAFT

The Broncos came into the day with the No. 36 overall pick of the draft, but orchestrated a trade with the San Francisco 49ers that netted the club the 45th, 108th and 141st picks in exchange for No. 36.

With No. 36, the team took Moore, and Fox said it was a crucial move as the draft moves to its final stage tomorrow.

"I thought it was important coming into the draft that we acquire a fourth- and fifth-round pick, which we did not have, because this type of draft, we think it's pretty strong," he said. "I think it is a deep draft. There's still guys on the board that we're interested in."

Fox did say there was talk of trading back into the third round, but the consensus was that it would be counterproductive.

"There were a lot of conversations," he said. "Part of the reason to move back was to acquire those picks, then to turn around and lose those picks to move back up didn't make much sense to us at the time."

HELP IN THE MIDDLE

So far in the draft, the Broncos have acquired two linebackers, a safety and an offensive lineman. The club's head coach admitted he had hopes to add some bulk in the middle of the defensive line.

"I would have felt better if we could've gotten a defensive tackle," Fox said. "A little bit earlier we had some guys in mind, they didn't get there just because they were selected by somebody else. But there's still a lot of draft left. We've still got tomorrow. There are some guys still there that we have interest in. When we have free agency, there are some guys of interest there, too."

But even as the team is currently constructed, Fox said there is some talent at tackle.

"I think we've got guys on our team now that can start -- it's not like we have nobody," he said.

"I think any time you do drop down you risk losing players, and that's all part of the process," he continued. "I'm not sure if we stayed up there they'd have been people we selected -- there's still some depth at the end of the draft. We'll look at that, and if we don't accomplish it there we'll look at the next player pool when that develops."

PLAYERS RETURN TO DOVE VALLEY

In the morning, players were able to return to Dove Valley as the lockout was temporarily lifted.

"We got a lot accomplished," Fox said. "There were meetings, just football stuff. It is a football building, it's been a little strange with no football players, so that part was fun. I think it was fun for our trainers, fun for people who work in the building, and I know it was for the coaches. It might be short-lived, but it was a good day."

He said the team was able to give Von Miller, who was in the building to be introduced to the Denver media for the first time, some information, as well.

"Really what happens moving forward, we're still in communication on that."